ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Erie County Stadium Corporation, a subsidiary of Empire State Development, unanimously voted Monday to move forward with the plan in place for the new Buffalo Bills stadium.
The $1.4 billion stadium is funded with $600 million in state taxes, $550 million from the Buffalo Bills and $250 million from Erie County. That investment prompted members of the community to push for a community benefits agreement, or CBA, that would promise investment into the surrounding area.
The current plan promises $3 million a year will go toward community programs like addressing food insecurity, anti-violence initiatives, internships and Minority/Women Business Enterprises (MWBE). It also keeps the Bills in Western New York for 30 years.
“Being the only New York state NFL team with income taxes, the [return on investment] of this team staying here is substantial in many ways, not just with the agreement, but in other areas too,” said Robert Duffy, Erie County Stadium Corporation chair. “They look at sales tax revenue, income tax, there’s a lot of other intangibles that come into play keeping them here, hopefully, into perpetuity.”
“So I’m very proud,” April Baskin, (D) Erie County Legislature chairwoman, said. “I don’t think that there is a CBA in the nation that compares to what Buffalo and Erie County is getting and I just can’t commend my colleagues in the legislature, County Executive Poloncarz, Governor Hochul, the Pegulas, and the Buffalo Bills team for getting us here.”
The next step is to take it to a public hearing on Feb. 2. If there is no negative comment, the plan will be set in motion. If there is negative comment, the board will revisit the plan and revote.
The plan is to break ground mid-2023 and finish before the 2026 season.